Housing unit



Sept. 22, 1942. L. T. Z ELL 2,296,413

HOUSING UNIT Filed April 19, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 F76 5 gwua/wfm v A 00/4 TZELL.

Sept. 22, '1942. L. T. ZELL 2,296,413

HOUSING UNIT Filed April 19, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Lucm/v TZELL.

IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

Sept. 22, 1942. 'T ZELL v 2,296,413

HOUSING UNIT Filed April 19, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 F765. 7. lac/AH TZELL.

' INVENTOR.

Sept. 22, 1942.

L. 'T. ZELL HOUSING UNIT Filed April 19, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Sept. 22, 1942 -UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOUSING UNIT Lucian T. Zell, Cleveland, Ohio Application April 19,1941, Serial No. 389,459

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a portable housing.

Fig. 8, a perspective view of the interior of the unit as viewed from the bedroom end thereof toward the entrance.

The present invention is the first to provide a housing unit that meets. the oflicial requirement that emergency housing projects shall not result in ghost cities or slum districts remaining behind incorporating detachable means for rolling the unit from one location to another.

A further object is to'providea portable unit that may be readily supported on its chosen site .independently of its detachable roller means.

Another object is to provide a housing unit having a cooperative arrangement of built-in furniture and appliances providing maximum economy in utilization of space.

Another object is to provide a housing unit having dimensions adapted to permit the transportation of the entire unit on the usual flat car or motor truck with ample clearance under overhead obstructions on the usual highway lanes or railroads.

Another. object is to provide such a unit with means for rapidly converting the'kitchen space into a living mom space.

Additional and more specific objects 'will plainly appear from the detailed specification and drawings presented herein in exemplification but not in limitation of the present invention.

Like reference characters represent like members in the drawings which represent diagrammatically in: 1

Fig. 1, a perspective view showing a front elevation of the housing unit in its tion;

Fig. 2, aplan view of the underside of the unit showing thecombined chassis, bottom frame and sills of the house together with its detachable rolling means;

Fig. 3, a perspective view. of a corner fragment of the unit showing the combined supporting means for detachably applying the rolling means to the unit;

Fig. 4, a cross-sectional view of an end elevation of the unit taken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5, a floor plan showing the cooperative arrangement of the interior of the unit Fig. 6, a perspective view of the interior of the unit as viewed from the entrance toward one end thereof;

Fig. 7, a like viewtoward the other end of the unit; and

when the emergency is past. Furthermore, the unit described herein affords maximum salvage value when the emergency during which it may be used has passed.

This novel unit also meets all regular peacetime requirements' of ofliclal or federal agencies interested in large-scale housing projects and permits low rentals very favorable to the occupant. In addition -.the initial cost of the unit herein described is so low that evenminlmum rentals will repay the cost thereof within a minimum period of time, making the units completely self-liqiddating. Consequently, the novel unit herein described is the first to provide a means.

' for stabilizing rentals by-preventing sky-rocketing of rentals in moments of excessive demand and by likewise avoiding sudden depression in rentals in a specific area when demand for low cost relatively temporary housing space has passed. It is the first factory furnished and installed posiequipped portable housing unit dimensioned to be transportable by rail or truck over the usual railways or highway lanes beneath all normal obstructions and that furthermore meets all federal or ofiicial requirements for over 400 cubic feet of air space per person required by the Federal Department of Health.

The dwelling It comprises a chassis ll supporting the uprights l2, ceiling members l3, roof members It, the ridge member 15 and its supports l6 as shown in Fig. i.

A porch member l1 and a canopy member 18 are foldably attached to the unit In and are held in their open position by detachable uprights l9 engaging the sockets 39. An entrance 20,'windows 2i, ventilating means 22 andjl, gutters 33,

spouting 34, and a. detachable chimney member 23 are preferably provided as shown in Fig. 1.

The chassis II is provided with longitudinal side members 24, a central longitudinal rib member 25, transverse members 26 and end members 21.

The detachable rolling means preferably comprises a metal axle 28 to which are applied metal wheels 29 which are preferably affixed to the axle 28, but which may, if desired, be rotatably mounted thereon. v The axle 28 is adapted to run in the journal member 39 by attaching shown in Figs. 2 and 3 wherein the chassis H by means members a and 3|, the lower journal member 8| being detachably secured to the upper journal means such as the bolts 92. When in their attached position the axles supply additional rigidity to the chassis II and effectively resist the strains resulting from the various positions that maybe assumed by the unit during its transportation and installation.

A preferred attaching and supporting means is the detachable rolling means coacts with a supporting block 85 provided with a recessed portion 83 adapted to be attached to the chassis members 24 and 21 by means of bolts 38. The underside of the block 38 is provided with a journal portion 31 adapted to receive the axle 28 held therein by means of the lower journal member. The journal block 35 serves the combined functions of providing a bearing for the axle 28 and providing an integral supporting block for the unit itself after it has been lowered into its final position on its site. It also provides ample clearance for the lowering jacks to engage the chassis I l.

One end of the chassis Il may preferably be provided with a turnable axle support 84 preferably in longitudinal cross section in the form of an inverted V and adapted to receive the axle- 53 in bearing members 58. The support 54 is removably and rotatabiy carried on the king pin 58 by the bearing 81. The pin 56 is affixed to of the blocks 84. A towtogether with its attached axle 88, wheels 29 and bar 69 to drop out of position as the pin 56 slides out of the bearing 51. Thereafter the Jacks may be lowered and the unit It will then rest upon the blocks 88 and 64 as shown in Fig. 3 or also upon additional foundation blocks inserted under the chassis ll prior to the removal of the jacks The service appliances installed in the unit may be operated by gas, electricity, or oil, and if operated by electricity, exterior: lead: plugs may be provided on the outside'of the unitgim J so that once the unit has been lowered into posi-- tion it will only be necessary to make the usual electrical connections thereto. The present invention contemplates all embodiments and modifications thereof within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

ing bar 50 may preferably be swingably attached I to the axle 53 by means of the bearings 59.

The turnable support 54 may preferably be positioned at the bedroom end of the dwelling Hi.

This will cause-the V-shaped member 54 to slightly elevate that end of the dwelling i0 above the normal level ofthe kitchen end of the dwelling ill which contains a larger portion of the weight of the house when fully equipped than the bedroom end. This will cause a major portion of the load in transit to be borne on the rear what is claimed is:

1'. A portable dwelling comprising in combination; a chassis having side members and end v members interconnected and adapted to sup;

port the wall members and roof members of said dwelling, a pair of opposed foundation blocks f; i

affixed to the underside of said chassis adjacent each end thereof, journal means ailixed to the underside of each of said blocks, transverse'axle"" members adapted to engage said journal means in each pair of said blocks, wheelscarried by], said axles, and removable means for holding said axles in operating position in said journalfn'iea n's'; whereby said dwelling may be securely'supported on said foundation blocks after removal of'said axles.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said journal means comprises upper and lower journal member s, saidjupper journal members comprising shoulder portions adapted to engage the underside of said chassis, said lower journal members including means for rigidly holding said axles in position in a manner to provide transverse reinforcement ,for said chassis while said dwelling is being moved.

axle which is fixed to the chassis Ii and which thus strengthens the chassis-at the point of greatest load. This arrangement also reduces the portion of the normal load that is applied in transit to the turnable support 54 and materially fa- ,cilitates the transportation of the house I 9 on the wheels 29 when it is necessary to tow the house around comers on its own wheels 29.

As shown in the floor plan in Fig. 5, the unit l9 is provided with an attached refrigerator 39, a-

sink 40, a stove II, a toilet 42, a wash bowl 49, a shower 44, a heating unit 45, foldable double beds 48, closet space I1, dresser l8 and table". The kitchen area 50 is preferably isolated from the living room area 5| by means of a vertically adjustable screen member adapted to simultaneously overlie the front faces of the refrigerator 99, sink 40 and stove 4|, when said screen mem-' ber 52 is in its lowered position.

In operation, the unit I0 is eq p d and furnished at the factory with the detachable axles and wheels 28 and 29 and is thereby rolled onto a flat car or truck for delivery. It is preferably conveyed to its chosen site by means of a motor truck and unloaded therefrom to its exact location by means of a winch and a ramp. When it has been rolled into the exact position desired it is elevated by means of jacks engaging the chassis member 24. Thereafter the journal members 3i may be released and removed, permitting the axles "with the wheels 29 to drop out of position and to be removed from beneath the unit I9,

and at the same time permitting the support 54 7 s. A portable dwelling equipped. with built-in furniture and service appliances so arranged that one end portion of said dwelling supports.

a larger proportion of the total weight of said dwelling than the other end thereof, said dwelling comprising in combination a chassis having side members and end member interconnected and adapted to support the wall members and roof members of said dwelling, a pair of opposed foundation blocks affixedto the underside of said chassis adjacent said one end portion of said dwelling, journal means aflixed to the underside of each of said blocks, a transverse axle member adapted to engage said journal means in" said pair of blocks, wheels carried'by said axle, removable means for holding said axle in operating position :in said journal means, whereby said dwelling may be supported on said foundation blocks after removal of said axle, a' foundation block aflixed to the central portion of the end member of said chassis at said other end portion of said dwelling, a second axle turnably and removably supported on said last named foundation block, and wheels on saidlast named axle, said last named axle being so constructed and arranged that it will normally support said other end portion of said dwelling at a higher level than'said first named end portion of said dwelling while, said dwelling is being moved on said wheels.

4. A portable dwelling equipped with built-in furniture and service appliances so arranged that one end portion of said dwelling supports ing comprising in combination a chassis having side members and end members interconnected and adapted to support the wall members and roof members of said dwelling, opposed foundation members aflixed to the underside of said chassis adjacent said one end portion of said dwelling, journal means aiflxed to said foundation members, a transverse axle member adapted to engage said journal means, wheels carried by said axle, removable means for holding said axle in operating position in said journal means,

foundation members after removal of said axle, another foundation member aflixed to the central portion of the end member of said chassis at said other end portion of said dwelling, a

second axle turnabiy and removably supported on said last named foundation member, and wheels on-said last named axle, said last named axle being so constructed and arranged that it will normally support said other end portion of whereby said dwelling may be supported on said 7 said dwelling at a higher level than said first named end portion of said dwelling while said dwelling is being moved on said wheels.

LUCIAN '1'. 2m. 

